SPEAKING FOR GOD’S GLORY The crowds gathered in the Temple to hear Jesus were amazed at His teaching. They wondered how He had such knowledge and wisdom without training. He responded that His message came from God who sent Him. He did not speak for Himself. He did not seek His own glory, but to
WHERE DO YOU TURN WHEN IN TROUBLE? The psalmist gave thanks to God for His deliverance in times of trouble and distress. He praised the Lord for bringing them out of the darkness and gloom of slavery. Perhaps a reference to Israel’s time of being enslaved in Egypt. He gave thanks to God as Deliverer.
JESUS, THE TRUE FOOD FOR OUR SOULS After Jesus miraculously fed the multitude, the crowd looked for Him the next day. When they found Him, Jesus told them that they weren’t really looking for Him, but they were looking for more bread. He said they should stop looking for food that perishes but for food
HERE I RAISE MY EBENEZER! Samuel called the Israelites to Mizpah for an assembly of repentance and recommitment, but the Philistines heard about their gathering and attacked. God fought for Israel and they overcame the Philistines for the first time in a generation. There, Samuel set up a large stone to remind them of God’s
WHOSE APPROVAL DO YOU SEEK? Jesus contrasted His motives with that of the Jewish leaders who questioned His authority. He boldly told them that their approval meant nothing to Him (v.41). For He only sought the approval of His Father in whose name He had come. However, He accused them of only caring for the
HANNAH, A GODLY EXAMPLE OF MOTHERHOOD Hannah was barren. At her family’s annual visit to the Tabernacle at Shiloh to worship and bring offerings, she was so stricken with grief that she could only mouth the words to her prayers. Her lips moved, but no sound came forth. She cried out from her heart that
THE FAMOUS ONE IS JESUS The little book of Ruth illustrates the use of the Levitical law (found in Lev. 25) which provided for a woman who had no male heir to retain her family’s property. This provision in the law called for a close family member to become a “ga’al” (גָּאַל), which is Hebrew
GO AND TELL THEM TO COME AND SEE The Samaritan woman that Jesus met at Jacob’s well was ready to share Jesus with others after only one encounter. Jesus had given her the clearest statement concerning His identity that He had given anyone, simply saying, “I am He.” The woman ran back to her village,
STOP TRYING TO MAKE YOURSELF FAMOUS When John the Baptist’s followers worried that more people were going to follow Jesus than their leader, John rebuked them. He recognized that God determined spiritual results. And he also understood that his ministry was to prepare the way for Christ’s ministry. As John said, “He must increase, but
WHAT YOU BELIEVE ABOUT JESUS MATTERS All of Adam’s children are “condemned already” because of sin and because of sin’s wage, which is death. Every member of the human race is born under the curse of sin. It was this curse, this condemnation that Jesus took upon His own body, so that the judgment that